This blog is dedicated to the sublime instruments called nose flutes and which produce the most divine sound ever. We have chosen to discard all the native models from S. Pacific and Asia, for they need fingering to be played. We'll concentrate on "buccal cavity driven" nose flutes : the well patented and trademarked metal or plastic ones, plus, by a condemnable indulgence, some wooden craft or home-made productions.

Jul 28, 2012

Custom fluted silver whistle

After the brass whistle I transformed into a nose flute with an unexpected success, and the bachelor plastic whistle customized into an obscene glow-in-the-dark-flute, I decided to attack noble metals...



I bought a solid Sterling Silver whistle on Ebay and worked it the same that I did on the brass one (filed a round hole on the belly, sanded and buffed). But this time, I rounded the air entrance (shaped it rather oval, from its flat rectangular profile) and included an extension in soft silicone that I sealed with a piece of heat-shrink tubing, used in electrical engineering. Thanks to the small ring at the bottom which provide a grip, the whistle gets totally hands-free!



The result is simply... stunning! The sound is very bright, clear and precise, the tone range is over-correct, and the whistle is quick as a lightning!! And it reacts very sensitively to any solicitations (tremolos and so). Incredible. Here is a sound sample which, despite my mediocre playing, is able to testify of the sound quality of this new baby.

4 comments:

  1. I can tell that this is a very precise nose flute. Very well done, indeed! Amazingly, the concept appears to be so simple, made from a referee whistle!

    The sound does lack body though, which is only normal considering the size. I wonder: aren't there any larger referee whistles available...?

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  2. What it proves, is that people having made silver nose flutes are right :) Clearly, th precision and speed come from that metal, and not because of the shape. About the "body of the sound", you're right too, it comes from the low amount of material.

    Yes, there are larger silver whistle, notably the ones (in silver) that are long (9 or 10 cm) cylinders. More, they would fit well a nostril because of their circular beak. Unfortunately, those are much much more expensive.

    I found my silver whistle for $30. That was correct, but really "enough" for such an exeperiment. But I saw a larger and cylindrical silver whistle : it was at $150 !! So, i passed my way :)

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  3. Très interessant et impressionant, et joué bien! Je voudrais dire - sans vouloir être immodeste - que j'ecoute quelque influence de la diva nasale dans cette interpretation ... :)

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